Spark-plug.



PATENTED JULYZI, 1 908.

0. T. IVAN WOERT.

SPARK PLUG.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1. 1907.

, wax

. epark gap.

55 threads and a shoulder 11.

CLARENCE THORN VAN WOERT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SPARK-PLUG. I

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 21, mos.

' hpplicatio n filed August 1', 1907. Serial No. 386,839.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CLARENCE Tnonn VAN Wonn'r, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of the city of New York, borou h of Brooklyn, inthe county of Kings and tate of New York, have invented a new andImproved Spark-Plug, of which the following is a full, clear, andexactdescription.

This invention relates to certain improvements in spark plugs for use inconnection with internal combustionengines and the like, and-relatesmore particularly to means for preventing lubricating oil or otherliquids within the cylinder which come in contact with the sparkplug,from passing the If lubricating oil is present upon e terminals ofthe-electrode and adjacent the spark gap at the time the spark passes,the Oll often becomes decomposed and soot or carbon is deposited uponthe terminals and the passage of the spark materially interfered with.If the liquid is of a conducting nature, a drop may collect and connectthe I two electrodes and permit of a passage of the current without aspark.

In my improved construction, it is impossible for oil or other liquidsto pass the spark.

gap, as any and all li(' uids which come into the vicinity of theterminals are drained away from the spark gap. The spark is formedwithin the recess and adjacent the innermost portion thereof, and thefirst portion of the explosion, therefore, .takes lace within therecess. The outward ms 1 of flame from the s ark gap toward the interiorof the engine cy inder serves to remove all oil or other liquid whichmay be upon the inclined drainin surface of the core or upon the lowerelectror e. Thus the electrodes adjacent the spark gap are kc t cleanboth by the-draining action and by t e sweep of flame at the beginningof the explosion.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part ofthis specification, in Which .the figure shows a central longitudinalsection through a spark plug constructed in accordance with myinvention.

The spark plug comprises a casing 10 having one end thcre'df threadedand adapted to be screwed into an opening in the engine: cylinder orother explosion chamber. The casing is )ro'vidcd with acentrally-disposed passage tliercthrough and the outer end of .thepassage is provided with internal screw Extending through the casing isa core 12 of porcelain or other suitable non-conducting material andhaving a flange 13 engaging with the shoulder 11 to limit the inwardmovement of the core.. The core is held in place by athreaded sleeve 14engaging with the outer surface of the flan e 13 ol" the core andholding the latter firm y in lace. The core is provided with acentralydisposed passage therethrough, and extending through thispassage is an inner or central electrode 15 which as illustrated maybesomewhat smaller than the passage. The outer end of the electrode iscemented or otherwise rigidly secured to the core and connects with ametallic collar 16 at'the outer end.

An electric wire 17 is held in place upon the collar and the electrodeby a suitable thumb nut 18, "l he inner end of the. core is pro videdwitha recess, the innermost portion of 75 which is at the centralpassage of. the core, and the inner electrode 15 terminates sub--stantially flush with the surface ofjthe recess. The walls of the recessform a draining surface from. the terminal to the electrode, and any oilor other liquid which may splash against the spark plug or in any othermanner come into contact with the electrode 15 and the-core, willimmediately drain out ofthe recess and away from the electrodc'to theouter annular drip ed e 19 of the core. The other wire 20 of the eectrode surrounds the gland formed by the threaded sleeve 14 adjacenttheouter end of the s ark plug casing or body 10, and is firmlyhelilinengagcment therewith by a suitable nut 21. This nut serves notonly to hold'the electric wire in place and form a firm contacttherewith, but also serves as a lock nut for preventim the accidentaldisplacement or the working dose of the gland. At the inner end of thebody or casing 10, there is provided a second electrode 22,substantially U-shaped in form and having one end secured to andsupported by the casing and the other end extending up into the.recess'in the end of the core to a point closely adjacent the end ofthe other electrode 15. As the terminal portion 23 of this secondelectrode extends u ward it is evident that any oil or other liquidwhich may come into engagement therewith will immediately drain down tothe lowermost o'r bowed portion of the electrode and drip therefrom.

By means of the above construction it 18111 practically im ossible'foroilto accumulate at the tcrminu sof the electrodes, as both of them areso constructed as to brin about an immediate shedding r draining o' theoil or liquid. It is evidentthat any drops which may accumulate at theannular drip edge 19 core of insulating material having a recess in itslower or inner end, an electrode extending (hrough said core andterminatim within aid recess substantially flush with the innermostportion thereof, and a second electrode extending into said recess frombelow and terminatlng adjacent the end of the firstmentioned electrodeto leave a spark gap therebetween, adjacent the innermost portion of therecess, whereby all oils or other liquids are automatically drained awayfrom name to this specification in the the spark ga by the walls of therecess and the second c ectrodc, and whereby the first )ortion of theexplosion sweeps said liquids irom the recess.

2. In a spark plug, a downwardly-extending electrode anupwardly-extending electrode'spaced therefrom to leave a spark gap, andmeans for maintaining said spark gap free from oils or other li uids,said means including a rounding tie first-mentioned electrode adjacentits extreme end and having inclined walls extending downwardly andoutwardly from said extreme end to form a recess with the spark gap inthe inn ermost portion thereof.

In testimony whereof I have signed my two subscribing witnesses.

CLARENCE THORN VAN WOERT.

ieceofinsu ating material surpresence of 40

